Archive for July 2022

There are countless opportunities to learn about and celebrate LGBTQ+ culture throughout the year. Some of these celebrations are planned by the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, while others are arranged by groups. And I am quite honored to have been asked by PROJECT DYESABEL to attend one of Davao's LGBTQ+ Community events on June 26, 2022, which highlighted the Sama Dilaut Bajao community residing in Matina Aplaya, Davao City.

Formerly known as Ateneo de Davao University Dyesebel, PROJECT DYESABEL has a new moniker. A social and civic club were created in 2018. As they continue to aid and serve our Bajao brothers and sisters, they have become one of the most active non-profit, Bajau- and youth-led organizations in Davao, collaborating with the Badjao community in Matina Aplaya on environmental projects.

Education and Training, Sustainable Livelihood, Research and Innovation, Good Governance, and Culture and Arts are DYESABEL Inc.'s five core advocacy areas. Since 2018, it has undergone three major changes:

At #WorldEnvironmentDay last June 5, 2018, the founder spotted the Bajaus diving into plastic-filled waters, which inspired the campaign's first makeover on #BeatPlasticPollutionDay. "Project Dyesable" intends to provide the kids (Php 10 each) dyes in exchange for them picking up garbage at the sea so that they might be able to do their part to protect our environment. Symbolically, their gesture is similar to that of the Filipino mermaid "Dyesabel" from a well-known Philippine television series.
During the second change, they learned that paying kids to pick up trashes is a band-aid approach to a systemic problem. Dysabel is a Bajau mermaid that took on human form in order to spread awareness about the degradation of our oceans. A storytelling session for children and a discussion with their parents/grandparents were used to enhance our educational initiatives in coastal areas.
For this reason, they chose to co-create the organization as a Bajau and youth-led organization so that our marine indigenous peoples "Sama Dilaut," or Bajaus, as well as the young, could engage and lead efforts to mainstream inclusivity in conservation activities. Last April 2021, DYESABEL Inc. became an SEC-registered company.

𝗺𝘂𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗸𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮: 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁

Last June 26, Project Dyesabel held an event called muSEAkahan 2022: FOUR the PEOPLE and the PLANET to commemorate their fourth anniversary of founding and to raise money for community members who have been forced to leave their homes due to coastal road construction, while also promoting the organization's core mission of assisting the Sama Dilaut Bajao Community.

Sama Dilaut Bajao Community together
with the Project Dyesabel Organizer

Some of the CULTURED PEARL for sale during the event

A music concert was held in order to show support for the Bajao community. After two years of only holding the celebration online, they decided that they wanted this year's event to be more interactive and exciting than the previous two. To do this, they asked stars from Davao to perform in front of real audiences while holding an online live streaming event at the same time.

At the event, local businesses were given support, and Sama-Bajau goods and ways of making a living were displayed for the duration of the whole day. In the evening, as part of the socialization process, there are special concerts put on by local artists from Davao.

The following are some of the more memorable photos that I was able to photograph.

A Facebook Live Stream of the concert was also made available for those who were not able to attend the performance in person. But the outpouring of funds they receive from those who support their advocacy after the event is what really counts to them.

THE ADVOCACY

To live in harmony with nature, Project Dyesabel promotes sustainable management of our natural resources as the top priority for a sustainable lifestyle.

Plastics make up the majority of the garbage and marine debris that is found in our oceans and along our shores. This problem occurs on an annual basis and results in tons of waste and damage. Plastics pose a significant threat to marine life, and they are responsible for the deaths of birds, turtles, whales, and an incredible number of fish in our ocean. This debris in the ocean is a major contributor to pollution, which has a negative impact not only on human health but also on the health of marine life and the economies of coastal communities. By collecting trash that has washed up on shore and that has been left by visitors, this coastal clean-up program encourages everyone to come to our beaches and help limit this problem.

The fact that CLIMATE CHANGE has emerged as a topic of intense interest in modern times, particularly across all forms of social media, my mind jumped to the question of whether or not the programs and campaigns to clean up the coast were successful. After a long pause, I started by saying that the ocean is an important part of our lives and that water covers about 70% of the earth's surface.

The ocean is a very important factor in the fight against climate change. Almost half of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is made when fossil fuels are burned is taken up by the ocean. This is because the ocean is one of the best natural places to store carbon. The contamination of the ocean is a significant contributor to the problems facing it today. It is not a myth. Wastes such as plastics, chemical runoffs, crude oil, and other potentially harmful substances are dumped, pumped, spilt, and leaked into bodies of water. Some of them are even removed when we do the laundry.

Plastic pollution is prevalent in areas where the local waste management techniques are ineffective and where there is a considerable quantity of improperly managed waste that has the potential to infiltrate rivers and the ocean. Both of these things may be seen in the biggest cities in our country.

For this reason, Project Dyesabel has come up with this advocacy to help aid in the cleansing of our coastal areas and plant trees for the improvement of the environment. The first step in taking action to create a cleaner and more sustainable world is realizing that marine pollution is a problem that has to be addressed. The next stage is to actually put anything into motion. We need to immediately start cleaning up our coastlines and we have to stop putting rubbish into the water. These are two essential steps that need to be taken. One of the many things that can be done to preserve the ocean is to participate in pollution prevention and reduction efforts by cleaning up coastal areas.

It is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to participate. A coastal cleanup is an outdoor activity that welcomes participants of all ages, including schoolchildren, teenagers, adults working in government or the commercial sector, and concerned individuals. To put it more succinctly, it is a community-based action that can be done on a regular basis to clear rubbish and debris with the purpose of making the planet better and healthier. Trash is removed and collected by our team in order to make coastal areas a more pleasant location for everyone. Cleaning up the beaches is good for the environment because it makes sure that none of the trash there is harmful to the marine life.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Volunteering for a good cause that you believe in is the kind of thing you will never look back on with regret. By taking part in this program, not only will you have the opportunity to enrich your life, but you will also gain knowledge about the people and ideas in your community, which will forever alter the way you look at things. By helping the people in your community, you can gain a better understanding of who you are and where you fit in the world.

For a variety of reasons, it is critical to look for a cause that is meaningful to you and to contribute some of your time to that cause. Spending time in your community helping others is an excellent way to broaden your understanding of the world. You can gain a tremendous amount of knowledge about the workings of the world if you enlist the assistance of a community as well as a group of people who share your values. When you help other people, it gives you a sense of purpose that can frequently be carried over into other aspects of your life.

It is also very important for the general health of the neighborhood that you live in! Without the dedication of volunteers, many of the services and activities that are available in our communities, which we frequently take for granted, would not be feasible. It is a worthwhile attempt to give back to those in the community who are less fortunate by helping at local shelters or food banks. If you give something back to the community, you might be able to help bridge some of the social, economic, and political divisions that exist in your area.

It's a win-win situation for everyone concerned when you give back to the community you live in. It has been established that regular volunteers enjoy better health on both a physical and mental level than those who don't volunteer as often. People who participate in regular volunteer work have a greater likelihood of living longer and enjoying better mental health throughout the course of their lives. In addition to the positive effects on one's health, volunteering can also give one a feeling of purpose. When it comes to the feeling of fulfillment you get from helping others and making a difference in the world, there is nothing else that can compare.

Giving back to the community is a great way to get to know your neighbors and the other people that live in your area on a deeper level. When you volunteer, you get the opportunity to interact with a diverse range of people. By collaborating with other individuals who have the same interest as you do in enhancing the quality of the environment, you'll have the opportunity to broaden your social circle. It will also give you a better insight into the lives of the people who reside in your neighborhood, which is a nice bonus. To be a good citizen, you need to have a mind that is willing to be changed and a broad base of experience from which to draw.

The lessons you pick up from volunteer work go much beyond simple people skills. Helping other people will teach you patience, kindness, and resiliency all at the same time. In addition, you will be presented with a myriad of experiences, such as working with a varied team, that might be of assistance to you in the process of navigating your career path in the foreseeable future. There is a chance that doing volunteer work will help you find a new hobby or interest for yourself.

There is a dizzying array of worthy endeavors that are looking for people to donate their time and energy to support them. No matter what your passions are, participating in volunteer work presents an excellent opportunity to contribute something back to the community. Community centers can be found in a variety of towns and cities across the country. These centers provide residents with opportunities to give back to the communities in which they live. You can also look for opportunities to help on the Facebook page that is dedicated to Project Dyesabel. It is possible to make a huge difference in the lives of others around you by volunteering as little as a few hours of your time each month.

Congratulations to Project Dyesabel! Magsukol!

I've been a CIGNAL TV subscriber for 10 years now. I applied November 2012, you can read my first blog about Cignal TV here: CIGNAL DIGITAL TV Review

And what made me blog again about Cignal TV? Here's my story.

Last September 2020, we've encounter an issue with our remote and I requested for a tech visit because even if we already change new batteries with our remote, we still cannot properly use it. The technician pull out our box and change to a new box.

This is the box that we used from September 2020 to June of this year.

The box was good and my two senior citizen parents are the one using (watching) the TV. Just this month of June they complain about the channels. They told me, it seems that the channels are decreasing. So, I've check my channels and yes from 25 channels I only have 10 channels in my list. I message Cignal TV and here's our conversation.

DISCLAIMER : It's a very long rant. Please bear with me.

JUNE 17, 2022

Immediately, I ask Cignal TV, "How many channels in Postpaid Plan 390?".

Cignal TV replied, "Plan 390 has 81 SD Channels and 13 HD Channels. Total of 94 Channels.

JUNE 18, 2022

But, as you can see I only have 20 Channels available. So, they told me that they will send electronic signal to my box and advice me to keep my box on a standby mode.

It was not resolve, my channels are still the same. So, they get my contact number and told me that after 2 hours someone from the technical team will call me.

June 19, 2022

9:38AM. I received a text message coming from Cignal TV. That they process account set up correction. That I have to check my programming.

9:55AM. I immediately replied to Cignal TV Facebook Page, that it is still the same. I still have 19 channels.

10:04AM. Cignal TV told me that they check my account, it is active and programming should be up and running. They also request me to do troubleshooting, using the link they provide from their website. And choose the set up box assign to me. But the problem for my issued box is not in the list for troubleshooting. They told me to wait for a call.

3:15PM. Cignal TV customer care call me via phone and ask me to do Factory Default. But instead to add channels, one channel was deleted in my channel list. From 20 channels, I got 19 channels!

June 20, 2022

Again, I made a complain and they always said the same excuses. This time I am very, very disappointed with their service. We've been doing the Factory Reset, etc., but issue is still not resolved!

They told me that they're trying to contact me but my number is not available. I got angry here, because how come my number is out of reach? They already called me once and I even talked with one of their customer representative. In my dismay, I ask for a technician immediately, to visit and check our box.

June 21, 2022

June 22, 2022

I waited and waited for their technical team to visit.

June 25, 2022

My address is not under 8Telcom? What? I have Cignal TV cable here for 10 years and my address is not listed??? What a crap!!!

June 26, 2022

They advice me to upgrade, and I said NO! Resolved my Plan 390 first before giving me an advice to upgrade my plan. Honestly, I'm still very linient here, even though I'm very disappointed with the service. I am still compose and trying to understand the situations.

This is my first experience after 10 years with Cignal. I still have that high hopes that everything will be fine.

June 28, 2022

And so I waited and waited for the technical team.

June 29, 2022

June 30, 2022

Viola! I received a call from the assign technician.

I still have high hopes that they can solve the issue. They checked both my satellite dish and the box, but in my dismay, everything they've done are useless.

They pull out my box and they will (again) change it to a new one, and ensuring me that all my channels will be restored.

So glad to hear that, but I will be the one to get my box after a week. Yes, that's what they told me. That I will be the one to get it at their office. Hmmm... What a customer service SATISFACTION! I have to wait for another week!!! Honestly, I got frustrated. I mean, I'm paying for maintenance fee for plan 390 (my monthly bill is P490, add P100 because of maintenance fee) and need to wait for a week? And I will be the one to get the box???? Is that normal, Cignal TV?

But, don't have time to argue with the tech, I'm tired and I don't have any more to say. I am disappointed.

July 1, 2022

At early morning I message Cignal TV Facebook Page regarding the box pull out.

Then 8:43 in the morning, Cignal tech call and inform me that my box is ready to be pick up at their office.

I went to their office at Cignal TV Satellite Office at Wheels & More located at JP Laurel Ave., Davao City.

As soon as I arrive in our house, I message Cignal TV FB page (Manila base) that I got my box. And they ask for my CCA for activation. But, before that the Cignal TV Davao already told me that my box is already activated. Got confused? Yes, me too! Hahahhaha.

And we are eager to see if the issue has been resolved. Yes, there are channels that are added to my list. But, as I go back to see the added channels, I found out that there are some channels not available eventually.

I message Cignal TV page and inform them what had happened. Then a customer service call me via mobile phone and request for a DIAGNOSTIC TEST and Installation. Then make a Reset. Upon checking, all my local channels are gone, the added channels stayed in my list. I have to call again after 2 hours because they told me that they will make an electronic system reset. And advice me to message again Cignal TV page if the reset is successful.

Right that day, I send a text message to the technician and advice me to return the box.

Going back to the Cignal TV page, I also message them about the issue, that after 2 hours they perform the electronic reset to my box my local channels are back, but the added channels are gone.

This is their reply.

July 2, 2022

I send them the list of channels that I have with the new box they've issued.

I told them that it is not yet resolved, problem is still there, my channels are still the same!

Remember, I just got my new box last July 1 and if the problem still not resolve and if I request for a technical visit again I have to pay. What? I got angry this time.

July 3, 2022

All they want me to do is to troubleshoot over and over. Going back from where we started.

They assigned a technician again to visit since my box is still under warranty.

July 4, 2022

While waiting for the tech, another problem occur. This time channels keep on changing, actually it's jumping from channel to another channel.

Reported it to Cignal TV page.

July 5, 2022

July 6, 2022

I ask for an update for the tech visit, and told me the assign tech is going to visit and check my box again. And yes, tech arrived in our house and do the checking. Finally, they told me to downgrade my plan, since my Plan 390 is an old plan that it is not anymore in their system. And my reaction is WHAT? WITH THE TROUBLESHOOTING WE'VE DONE FOR THE PASS DAYS, ALL ARE USELESS?!? And that's the reason why we encounter problem again and again, even if they will do the electronic reset it will not push through because my box will not accept the update.

I have no choice but to downgrade my plan from Plan 390 to Plan 290, which is more cheaper but got a lot of channels!

And about the other issue of my box, they request for a pull out and give me another new box.

July 7, 2022

Tech send me a text message that my box is good to go. And I reply that I will get it tomorrow.

July 8, 2022

After my bank transactions went straight to the Cignal office to get my box.

I went home in a hurry, excited to check my box if it's OK and if it is in a Plan 290. And yes, it is. As of this time channels are working great, no more jumping of channels and now my parents are enjoying watching because they have so many channels to choose from.

After all the hardship and sacrifices I've encounter with Cignal TV, I can finally say that there customer service done great! Despite of my persistent and "kakulitan" in messaging their FB page, they still handle their customers well. I hope next time, they will come up with a precise solution with the problems like mine. All they need is to say, "you need to upgrade or downgrade your plan". Don't give your subscribers a waiting game. It's very traumatic and stressful, especially to the senior citizen subscribers.

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